Improved coffin



@tiene geen enti @time THOMAS B. ESTE?, @F GNGINNATI, OHO.

Letters Paent No. 69,419, dated Uctober l, 1867.

lilge stimule nient tu iu ilgist ilntcts @anni mit mailling giri nf tige tiene.

TO WHGM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, THOMASB. ESTEP, of Oincinnoti, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coiiins; and hereby declare the following to be a full, eleztr, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speeication.

bly invention relates to a novel and secure method of hernictically closing:r the joints of wooden coilns, so as to prevent the escape of oensive gases and fluids arising from the decomposition of the corpse, and so' as also to prevent the coin becoming filled with water when the interment takes place in marshy grounds. In the accompanying drawings`r Figure 1 is a. longitudinal section in perspective of a eoilin embodying my improvements, the lid being removed. v

Figure 2 is a` transverse section of the same on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is n perspective View of the struck-up sheet-metal plates which are employed at the angles of the coffin for the purpose of securing the ndia-rubber strips in their proper position. I

Figure il shows one `unethod of making the joints.

A Af, B B, and C, represent respectively the ond, side, and bottoni boards of an ordinary wooden cofiu, or other euse which it is desired to close so as te render air-tight. D are strips of India rubber, 1eather,oilelotb, or otherrsuitable material, and these strips are attached to the coffin with white lead or cement, in such a manner that one-half of tue width of the stripis on one side of the joint and the other half on the opposite side. These strips may be about one-fourth of an inch thick and tivo inches wide, so as to allen' one inch on each side of the seam, and. the strips are to be `applied to all of the joints of the colin, both where the bottom beard is joined tothe sides and ends, and also where the sides and ends themselves-meet. The india rubber having been cemented to the eoiiin, it is non' secured against any displacement by means or" sheebmetnl strips E, which are attached to the eoii'in by screws or nails, e, which are caused 'ce poss completely througlrzhe ndia rubber and inte the substance ci' the n'eod. The strips E may be of zinc, copper, galvanized iron, or any other suitable metal, but I prefer zinc on account of its cheapness, and also because it is not liable te corredo when it comes in contact with the acids of the decomposing body. The metal' strips E should be of the same width as the rubber strips D, and that part ofl them designed for the corners may take the form shown in rig. 3, and which may be either east or be struck up out ci' sheet metal, the long strips 'for the bottoni 1 n egles being soldered to the portions CZ CZ. The ongles in the lid may be rendered air-tight in the saine,reanner.

A. eollin constructed in this manner cnn be transported any distance in the warmest weather without emitting any oiensive or noxious oder, and although the coihn mightbe iinu'iersedin walter the interior would remain perfectly dry.

I claire herein es new, und of my invention-- 1. Il. coilin, whose joints are hernieticnlly closed hy menne olA cemented rubber strips and sheet-metai strips E, the same being applied and securedsubstantially as herein described and set forth,

2. in combination with the rubber strips D and metal strips E, l claim the nngle-iron di, us and for the pur ose explained. i

In testimony of which invention l hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS B. ESTE?.

Vitnesses:

G30. Il. KNIGHT, JAMES H. Lunnis. 

